This was another light week which is typical for this time of year.
Cary #4 for Safe Driving
Allstate’s 2025 America’s Best Drivers Report revealed that Cary was #4 in the nation and #1 in North Carolina for safe driving. Allstate analyzed auto insurance claims in the 200 most-populated U.S. cities for an in-depth examination of company auto claims data to determine the likelihood drivers in America’s 200 most populous cities will experience a vehicle collision compared to the national average. According to Allstate claims data, the average driver in the U.S will experience a collision once every 10.56 years. In Cary it was 12.91 years. The entire report is available here.
Manager One-On-One
Monday the town manager and I met for our weekly one-on-one. Topics of discussion included the remaining 2019 bond funding authority, a citizen’s record request, SV temple violations, candidates who have filed to run for Cary Council, the Cary Tennis Classic, the Independence Day celebration at Booth Amphitheater, and the Cary Chamber Leadership conference.
HRID Meeting
Tuesday night I participated in a meeting of the Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity advisory board meeting. Topics included Pride Month, community engagement, translation of public safety information (Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, French, and Hindi), volunteering as a board in the community, and teen council comments.
Remembering Jerry Miller
Friday I attended the memorial and celebration of life for Jerry Miller, a world-renowned Cary artist, icon, and founder of Lazy Daze. Here is what was said about Jerry in the program:
Jerry Wilton Miller, 93, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 28th. His was a long life, well lived. He recently celebrated 70 years of marriage to his high school sweetheart, Alice Jean Castleberry Miller. He lovingly referred to her as “Sissy”. Sadly, he was preceded in death by his son Jerry “J” Miller, Jr in 2016. They have two daughters, Julie Miller and Jill Miller Goodman, husband David and their daughters Reece and Sawyer. Being their “Papa” was his favorite thing in life; he was so proud of them.
He was a very playful, fun-loving Dad and Papa. Playing basketball with J and his friends, jumping on the trampoline with all the neighborhood kids, building blanket forts in the living room and playing hide and seek for hours with Reece and Sawyer. Along with so many wonderful memories made on the beach. He was always a kid at heart.
He was born in Sanford, NC on February 11, 1932 to A.K. and Ruth May Miller, the 11th of their 12 children. He was preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters and 8 brothers. He loved his family so much as the “favorite Uncle” he leaves behind many, many nieces and nephews.
He attended and played football for Elon College, attended Mars Hill College and the NC State University School of Design. He was a diehard Wolfpacker! He also proudly served his country in the U.S. Army where he was a member of the Boxing Team.
In his younger years Jerry played softball, football, boxed, waterskied, snow skied, played ping pong, tennis, billiards, and golf. Jean and Jerry also enjoyed traveling together and took many trips with friends, to destinations domestic and abroad.
Jean and Jerry put their roots down in Cary in 1957 and those roots run deep. He was a charter member of the Cary Jaycees and one of the founders of the Cary Rotary Club. He illustrated and published “Around and About Cary” volume one in 1970 and volume two in 1994. In 1977 he started the Cary Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival. He has been the Cary Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, Rotarian of the Year and Herb Young volunteer of the Year. On February 11, 2012, his 80th birthday, the Mayor of Cary proclaimed it Jerry Miller Day. He won the Hometown Spirit Award and also graced the cover of Cary Magazine in 2013. He was featured on WRAL Tar Heel Traveler. He was inducted into the Cary Wall of Honor in 2019. In 2022 he was honored with a bronze bust permanently located on the campus of the Cary Arts Center. Our State Magazine featured him in their July 2024 issue and earlier this month he received the “Order of the Long Leaf Pine”, the state’s highest honor.
We are so proud of all his accomplishments in life. A loving Husband and Dad, a playful Papa, a talented artist and a Cary icon loved by so many!
Jerry was indeed a Cary icon. I was blessed to have known him. Rest in Peace Jerry!
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
Later this month, we’ll be joined by David Graham, Harvard’s Global Civic Innovation Fellow and leader in public sector innovation. His visit will blend education, facilitation, and strategic planning to help Cary accelerate responsible innovation and integrate artificial intelligence into operations.
On July 30, David will lead a presentation with staff to introduce foundational concepts, spark curiosity, and connect AI innovation to daily work. After the introductory presentation, David will facilitate a targeted working group session with key internal staff on assessing the current (draft) AI policy, while building a roadmap for operationalizing. A hold is currently on Council’s calendars – if you want to attend either or both sessions, please reach out to me for details.
Opportunities like this are about more than technology; they’re about equipping our people to lead change thoughtfully and responsibly.
Enjoy your weekend.
Sean
Pride Month Recap
Cary celebrated Pride Month with a vibrant and inclusive series of events. Landmark locations like the Cary Arts Center and Downtown Cary Park lit up in Pride colors, setting the tone for a month of celebration. The second annual Pride Night Market at Downtown Cary Park kicked off the festivities, where more than 2,500 attendees explored over 50 LGBTQ+ and ally vendors. Families enjoyed activities like the Pride Ride with Trek Cary and soccer fans cheered at a special Pride Night with the NC Courage. The Cary Theater hosted the “Allies and Icons” film series and a Pop-Up Chorus event, celebrating stories of love and acceptance. On June 22, Councilmember Michelle Craig attended Cary’s first Pride History Harvest at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center, collecting stories and memorabilia, including a signed jersey from NCFC player Collin Martin, for Cary’s archives. The celebrations wrapped up with a lively Family Pride Picnic on the Great Lawn at Downtown Cary Park, featuring arts and crafts, food trucks, and community partners like AARP, NC Courage, and Cary’s Human Relations, Inclusion, and Diversity Advisory Board. With strong attendance and support across all ages, Cary’s Pride Month was a true reflection of unity, visibility, and community spirit.
Independence Day
Downtown Cary Park kicked Cary’s Independence Day celebrations off on July 3 with its annual celebration, drawing over 1,200 attendees who enjoyed water misters, lawn games, flight simulators, and a showing of the original Top Gun movie. On the morning of July 4, Bond Lake came alive with the annual Independence Day Fishing Tournament, where 130 anglers ages 2 – 79 caught a total of 88 fish, making for a friendly and fun-filled competition. That evening, the celebration continued at Koka Booth Amphitheatre with Cary’s signature Independence Day Celebration, also marking the Amphitheatre’s 25th anniversary. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Bryson Robinson participated in a fun Q&A session on stage before the Mayor gave his welcoming remarks. An estimated 20,000 people gathered across the venue and Symphony Lake area to enjoy performances by the Cary Town Band and the North Carolina Symphony, capped off with an extended 25-minute fireworks display. A festive dance party and raffle followed to ease post-event traffic, wrapping up the night.
Fire Department Swiftwater Rescue Team Assists Chapel Hill
The Fire Department sent a battalion chief and staff equipped with the swiftwater truck, a rescue boat, and a rescue truck to Chapel Hill on July 6, following Tropical Storm Chantal. Staff focused on relieving overwhelmed local public safety personnel faced with flooded residences, businesses, and vehicles following record rainfall. They assisted in removing three elderly citizens and a cat from their homes and searched additional homes and vehicles for other survivors.
Water Tank Maintenance
On Tuesday, staff ascended the 138-foot Maynard Road water tank to repaint it for Cary’s rising class of 2026 graduates.
At the Harrison Avenue water tank, cellular carriers have erected a temporary pole to house their facilities so both the interior and exterior surfaces of the tank can be recoated. The switchover of cellular antennas will occur through August and tank rehabilitation is scheduled to follow in September, the process will take approximately 8 months.
Urban Tree Work Highlighted at Statewide Symposium
On Wednesday, Urban Forester Leslie Moorman co-presented at the 2025 Water & Soil Symposium, hosted by the North Carolina Green Industry Council at North Carolina State University’s McKimmon Center. Speaking to more than 90 landscaping professionals across North Carolina, Leslie shared how Cary addresses and reduces the challenges impacting urban trees, such as poor soils and invasive species. Her presentation highlighted Cary’s tree protection and landscaping requirements, soil specifications, pest and disease management practices, and Cary’s broader efforts to sustain a healthy, resilient urban canopy.
Cary Magazine Highlights Cary’s Sustainability Efforts
Cary’s climate work was featured in the latest issue of Cary Magazine. Energy Manager Sara Caliendo was featured in a thoughtful piece highlighting Cary’s Sustainability & Climate Action Strategy and new public dashboard. Sara’s insights and the dashboard demonstrate how Cary’s efforts like tree canopy programs, solar initiatives, and composting are helping residents connect to climate solutions in meaningful ways.
Read the feature here: New Dashboard Highlights Cary Sustainability and Resources.
Cary Parkway Pedestrian Bridge Construction
On July 21, construction of the Cary Parkway Pedestrian Bridge at Black Creek will begin. This work will require closing Cary Parkway for a week and detouring traffic along Norwell Boulevard, Weston Parkway, and Harrison Avenue. Following the construction, work will focus on pouring the concrete deck, making the sidewalk connections, and adding aesthetic enhancements including decorative panels, landscaping, and lighting. The bridge is tentatively scheduled to be opened this winter.
Upcoming Meetings
There are no meetings scheduled for next week.
Cary Candidate Filing
Filing for Cary Town Council ends this week. There are three seats open. An at-large seat held by Kohn-Johnson, the District A seat held by Bryson-Robinson, and the District C seat which is held by Smith. Council member Smith has publicly stated that he will not run for another term.
Filing began at 8:30 on July 7th and end will end at noon on July 18th. The filing fee is $114. Election day is November 4th. You can find the current candidates that have filed here.
Cary Mayor Rumors for 2027
Rumors that these next two years on the Cary Council will be my last are simply not true. I fully intend to seek re-election and am grateful to have the unwavering support of my family, friends, and constituents.
As the only living Mayor who has led Cary through a recession and some of the most challenging financial times, I see it as both my responsibility and my calling to continue my service on the Cary Council. I am committed to working alongside my colleagues to help guide our community through today’s uncertainties.
In the coming months, I encourage all citizens to focus on the important Cary Council election ahead, where three seats are up for decision. Once those choices are made by our community, we can then look ahead to November 2027.
Until then, I remain dedicated to my oath and to serving as Cary’s Mayor. I’m excited for what lies ahead—tomorrow and beyond.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- A complaint about the budget. Comments included “You collectively need to face the music and admit; you are all very poor managers of other people’s money…You are all pro-spend.”
- A request to set up a tent in the Downtown Cary Park to solicit signatures. (You can hand out materials in the Downtown Cary Park but you cannot set up a tent)
- A complaint about Congresswoman Ross’s negative comments about Trump at the Independence Day celebration.
- A request to approve a rezoning request on Reedy Creek Road for affordable senior housing. (We are months away from a decision)
- A request to install traffic control measures on Green Level Church Road. (This is a state-maintained road, and we will work to get the concerns heard by the state decision makers)
- A request to vote against case 24-DP-11189. (This is not a council decision but a development plan).
- Praise for a town employee. (IMHO, we have the best of the best and we should see more of these)
- A concern about safety on Morrisville Parkway and a request for information about intersection improvements. (this is a state-maintained road, and we will work to get the concerns heard by the state decision makers)
- A complaint about a median installed on Harrison Avenue.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, the Cary Chamber Leadership Conference, a presentation at Heritage Pines, and a meeting of the NC Metro Mayors.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, July 20th, 2025. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts, those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@carync.gov and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
Harold's Blog 